AFP Canada Strategic Plan

August 13, 2014

by Karen Dackiw

Recently AFP leaders from across Canada met in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake to review and discuss issues and opportunities within the fundraising profession and our own professional organizations. An engaging discussion ensued which helped set the direction for AFP in Canada moving forward.

With the recent release of AFP International’s 2014 – 2016 strategic plan, the task at hand has now become how do we, as fundraising professionals and AFP volunteers, interpret and implement the plan to maximize the benefits to our members with a Canadian context. This task falls not only to members of the AFP Canada Council, but also to our members in chapters across the country.

The goals in AFP’s strategic plan are universal and ultimately help ensure that our collective mission is met: that fundraising is viewed as a credible and respected profession for civic betterment throughout the world. As fundraising professionals, our work— and the incredible good produced in society because of it— is at the core of who we are.

But we know our work is not easy. Complex and ever-changing legislative environments, increasing public scrutiny and quickly changing technological advances challenge us every day as professionals. It’s AFP’s role to be there to not only advance our profession, but to also support us through these challenging but exciting times. And it’s our job on the AFP Canada Council to reach out to and engage our charities, sector leaders, elected representatives, chapters and—most importantly—our members. Our new strategic planning process will pave the way for us to do just that.

As chair of the AFP Canada Council Strategic Planning Task Force, I’m asking you to consider stepping forward and playing a critical role in our future. Whether you are new to the profession and AFP, or a seasoned veteran, all voices are welcome from all geographical regions across Canada.

Through our task force, we’ll review the new AFP plan and discuss, develop and implement these strategies nationwide through the drafting of a Canadian-specific three-year plan. We’ll liaise with our colleagues at the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy-Canada and the Canadian Government Relations Committee. We’ll also set a framework in place to ensure we are accountable to our members by sharing our achievements, struggles and goals yet to be met – just as we do each day as fundraisers with our own donors.

It has always been an honour and pleasure to volunteer my time to grow and strengthen both AFP and our profession. I hope you’ll join me in this endeavour.

If you are interested in joining the AFP Canadian Council Strategic Planning Task Force, please email me at kdackiw@reginahumane.ca by August 31, 2014.

Karen began fundraising professionally in 2002 and currently leads the fundraising efforts for the Regina Humane Society. Karen holds a Bachelor of Education degree and obtained her CFRE designation in 2007. She also volunteers extensively in the community, having served previously as the president of the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta and is a past-president of the AFP Regina Chapter. In 2012 Karen joined the AFP Canadian Council and in 2015 will become the first chair of the council from Saskatchewan. Karen also serves as vice president of the Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.